Tank cleaners



March 1963 a. s. TooPER ETAL 3,

TANK CLEANERS I Filed Sept. 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 ikuerafam" Jada rd 5 7 6 March 5, 1963 E. s. TOOPER ETAL 3,079,937

TANK CLEANERS Filed Sept. 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 cg W, uma Wwg United States Patent M 33379337 TANK CLEANERE Edward B. Tooper, Hinsdale, and Each R. Greenfield, Chi= cago, EL, assignors to The Diversey Corporation, 6hrcagc, EL, a corporation of iliinois Filed 22, 1969, Ser. N 57,827 6 Gaines. ((31. 134-466) This invention relates to a generally portable device for cleaning the interiors of tanks or other containers to Which entrance access is not easily available.

The tank cleaning attachment device herein disclosed is adapted for attachment and securernent through .the tank manhole to regions within the tank. it is important for the maintenance of sanitary condit ons in various forms of tanks and closed vessels that provision be made for cleaning them fast and elficiently. It is likewise important that the cleaning device be one which is transportable from place to place and which can be put into action in an extremely short time. High volume generally low pressure cleaning processes prove pant-icularly desirable for cleaning the linings of various types of tanks, whether these tanks have strainless steel, plastic, glass, or other types of internal liners.

In its preferred form the invention herein fro be described includes an enlarged spray-head preferably having no moving parts which would [tend to become clogged or corroded. The spray-head is attached to a holder and positioning mechanism through which the cleaning material is adapted to be supplied from an external source connected thereto. The spray-head and its support are carried upon appropriate locating and holding members to which they are firmly fastened. Also attached to the support are a plurality of frame locating and holding members in spaced-apart relationship. At least one of the frame locating and holding members is adjustable relative to the other members in order firmly to secure the components. The spray-head, together with its support and positioning element, and the supporting locating and holding members, we all positioned within a manhole opening into the tank to be cleaned in such fashion that the support locating and holding members extend outwardly from the tank through the manhole opening. Adjustable features are provided for moving one of the members along the length of the support for holding and positioning the component so that the positioning mem bers bear against the inner walls of the manhole opening and provide a suitable support and fastening for the complete component. A source of fluid which is to be ejected from the spray head may then be connected into the support for holding and positioning the head.

In the prior art various suggestions have been made for providing washing and watering of tanks, but, generally speaking, devices of the prior art have not had the characteristics of ready portability, quickness of attachment, and stability of location to such an extent as to make them in all respects satisfactory for achieving the desired objectives. The present invention has, therefore, as some of its objectives those of providing a light-weight, compact, portable and efficient cleaner and sprayer attachment which can be put into operation readily and which can be manufactured and marketed at minimum cost. Other objects and advantages of the invention will, of course, become apparent and will suggest themselves from the reading of the following description and claims in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation showing the spray unit positioned within a tank and held securely by its spaced-apart support arms, the tank being shown in broken away fashion;

3,979fi37 Federated Mar. 5, 1963 2 FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the spray unit proper removed from the tank; and,

FIGURE 3 is an elevation end view looking at the sprayer of FIGURE 1 in the direction from left to right.

Now referring to the drawings for further descripition of the invention, a tank cleaning attachment 9 is shown to include a spray nozzle 11 which has a multiplicity of openings 13 through which fluid is adapted to be ejected has a base member 15 which is arranged to abut the terminating end 17 of a tubular support 19. Securement or the base member 15 to the end 17 is usually provided by a clamping-ring or collar 21 which fits tightly over the ends of the base 15 and the end 19. The collar or clamp ring 21 is preferably for-med in two parts which are hinged to each other, as conventionally represented at 23. The free end of one part 25 of the clamp: ring terminates in an outward projection 27, while the free end of the second part 29 terminates in an outward projection 31. A U-shaped link 33 is hinged to the projection 31 and is adapted to overlap the projection 27 in a closed position, thereby to hold the two parts or" the clamp ring together. The clamp ring is securely tightened about the nozzle base 15 and the terminating end 17 of the tubular support 19 by tightening the thumb-screw 35 which threads through the outer end of the link and, upon tightening, forces the outward projections 17 and 31 closely together, thereby to form a fluid tight connection.

The outer end of the tubular support 19 terminates in an internally threaded fitting 37 which is secured in any desired fashion, as by welding, to a pair of spaced upright support members 39 and 41 which each extend in a direction substantially normal to that of the tubular sup port 19 for a substantial distance to either side thereof.

The lower ends of these uprights preferably have a. plastic, rubber or other suitable covering 43 thereon so that the interior of the tank wall 45 against which the unit is attached to be positioned is not damaged from pressure applied thereagainst.

Supported about the upright members 39 and 41 in order to held them in a desired spaced-apart position is a pair of spacer members 47 and 49, through the center of each of which a threaded extension 51 is arranged to be moved. The upper spacer member 49 is firmly secured to one end of the upright members 39 and 41. It also has an upwardly turned boss 53 on its upper surface. The boss 53 forms a bearing surface against which an adjustable hand-Wheel 55, whose hub central portion 57 is appropriately threaded and through which the threaded member 2'51 is adapted to be moved. The outer and unthreaded end portion 59 of the threaded member 51 is also covered with a suitable protective covering 61, which likewise may be rubber, plastic, or some other suitable pliable covering suitable to protect the inside of wall 45 of the tank within which the unit is to be assembled.

At the lower end of the uprights 39 and 41, suitable locating members 63 are attached, preferably by welding or some other suitable fashion of securement. In the present drawings these members are shown as a single U-shaped element having the opening ends of the U secured respectively to the uprights 39 and 41. However, it will be apparent that where desired the U-shaped member may be replaced by two outwardly extending pins suitably secured to the uprights 39 and 41 at points inward from the end thereof which approximate the proportion designated particularly by FIGURE 1.

The lower end 65 or" the threaded extension 51 is anchored and secured to the spacer member 47 which is provided with openings 67 (see FIGURE 3) to make it slidable on the uprights 39 and 41 as guides.

A locating member 69 is attached toward the outer end of the threaded extension 51 and secured thereto in any suitable fashion, as by welding. As can be seen from the drawings, and particularly by FIGURE 1, each of the locating members 63 and 69 is for convenience secured to its mounting member, that being the threaded member 51 for the member 69, and the uprights 39 and 41. in the case of the locating member 63, in such a way that the outer or free ends of the locating members are separated by a greater distance than are the secured ends. Preferably, the angle at which these locating members are mounteddoes not-exceed approximately 8 with respect to' a normalpositioning or one which would place the locating members substantially parallel to the tubular support 19, although this is not in any. respect essential. If desired, the locating members may be supported and secured to their mounting elements in such fashion as to extend precisely normal to either the uprights 39 and 41 or the threaded extension 51. The angular positioning is usually preferable as it is somewhat easier to hold the member in place when positioning, although this is by no meansessential to the invention.

When the invention is in use the spokes 71 of the handwheel 55 are manually turned with the internally threaded hub or center portion 57 bearing against the boss 53 on the upper spacer member 49. By appropriately turning the handwheel spokes 71 it will be apparent that since the hub or center portion 57 is threaded one direction of turning will cause the threaded member 51 to move outwardly and slide the spacer member 47 to which it is secured so that spacer 47 moves along the uprights 39 and 41toward the spacer member 49 by reason of the guiding eifect of the openings 67 which locate the spacer 47. With this outward motion the locating member 69 will be separated more or less with respect to the locating members 63. Turning the handwheel in the opposite direction will, of. course, draw the handwheel closer to the locating member 69 and under such circumstances the threaded member is slidable through the openings in the spacer 49 and the boss 53 to place the two locating members closer together.

Asthe attachment 9 is to be installed within a tank the handwheel 55 is appropriately turned so that the locating members 69 and 63 are reasonably close together and spaced by a distance less than the width of the manhole opening 45a, whereupon the spray nozzle 11 positioned within the tank through the manhole opening 45a (of'which only the lower and upper walls 73 and 75 are conventionally shown for convenience of illustration). Then, when the lower edge of guides 63 rest upon the walll73 of'the manhole opening, turning of the handwhe'el moves the upper surface of the locating member 6 upwardly to a position to contact the upper wall of the manhole at 75 concurrently the'locating members 63 being rested upon and in contact with the lower wall 73 of the manhole opening. The handwheel, of course, together with the nozzle 11 and its tubular support, extend inwardly and into the tank with securement in'the position desired being then-established by the three-point contact then provided by the two lower locating members 63 and the upper locating member '69. Attachment of a source of fiuid supply (from a source-not shown) is then provided by a coupling 77 threadably connected with the internally connected fitting 37.

As'shown particularly by the drawings, the connection may extend outwardly from the fitting beyond that of the threaded connector or coupler 77, but if desired this element'may be'that which provides the supply of fluid into the system. Fluid supplied may be liquid or vapor, as the case may be. Where the supply is liquid it is customary to have suitable detergents or other compounds mixed with the liquid for cleaning and sanitary purposes. In some cases steam vapor may also be injected through the nozzle and into the tank. Removal of the component is readily accomplished as above explained, after which transference may be made to any other desired location. Having now described the invention, what'is claimed 1s:

1. A tank cleaning attachment comprising a spray head, a support for holding and positioning the spray head, said support being adapted to be located and positioned internally of a tank through a manhole opening therein, a plurality of support locating and holding members carried from the support in spaced-apart locations thereon and extending in a diverging manner outwardly relative to the support in a direction opposite that of the spray head support so that when the spray head and support are positioned internally of a tank through a manhole opening therein the support holding and locating members extend through the manhole opening and spread part externally of the tank, and means to separate the support locating and holding members relative to each other to positions to bear upon the wall of the manhole opening I to provide gripping supports thereto.

2. A tank cleaning attachment comprising a spray head, a support adapted to be positioned internally of a tank and adjacent a manhole opening therein for holding and positioning the spray head, a plurality of support locating and holding members carried from the support in spaced-apart locations thereon and extending in a diverging manner outwardly relative to the support in a direction opposite that of the spray head support so that the spray head and at least a part of its support may be positioned internally in a tank through a manhole-open ing with the support holding and locating members held externally of the tank through the manhole opening and spread apart externally of the tank, and means to separate the support locating and holding members relative to each other to positions such that in a limiting position the inner portion of each holding member is adapted'to bear upon the wall of the manhole opening and provide gripping supports thereto at'spaced-apart locations.

3. The apparatus claimed in claim 2 comprising, in addition, a connector adapted to be coupled to a fluid supplyline to supply fiuid to the spray head.

4. The apparatus claimed in claim 2 wherein a pair of support locating and holding members extend outwardly from the lower portion of the support and a single member extends outwardly and is carried from the upper portion of the support.

5. The apparatus claimed in claim 2 wherein at least one of the locating members in a U-shaped member having the open ends of the U connected tothe support.

6. The apparatus claimed'in claim 2 wherein the sup-. port locating and holding members are each positioned to extend outwardly from the support at an angle such that the outer ends are spaced apart by a greater distance than'that of the locations.

Holdren Dec. 20, 1960 

1. A TANK CLEANING ATTACHMENT COMPRISING A SPRAY HEAD, A SUPPORT FOR HOLDING AND POSITIONING THE SPRAY HEAD, SAID SUPPORT BEING ADAPTED TO BE LOCATED AND POSITIONED INTERNALLY OF A TANK THROUGH A MANHOLE OPENING THEREIN, A PLURALITY OF SUPPORT LOCATING AND HOLDING MEMBERS CARRIED FROM THE SUPPORT IN SPACED-APART LOCATIONS THEREON AND EXTENDING IN A DIVERGING MANNER OUTWARDLY RELATIVE TO THE SUPPORT IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE THAT OF THE SPRAY HEAD SUPPORT SO THAT WHEN THE SPRAY HEAD AND SUPPORT ARE POSITIONED INTERNALLY OF A TANK THROUGH A MANHOLE OPENING THEREIN THE SUPPORT HOLDING AND LOCATING MEMBERS EXTEND THROUGH THE MANHOLE OPENING AND SPREAD PART EXTERNALLY OF THE TANK, AND MEANS TO SEPARATE THE SUPPORT LOCATING AND HOLDING MEMBERS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER TO POSITIONS TO BEAR UPON THE WALL OF THE MANHOLE OPENING TO PROVIDE GRIPPING SUPPORTS THERETO. 